Concern has been raised after a police operation has shown young people in Great Harwood are at risk of exploitation.

As part of Operation Latimer, police worked with partners in social care, council and the NHS to investigate concerns about and increase of anti-social behaviour in the town.

Once investigated, officers say it has become clear that some of those young people, while displaying signs of ASB, were actually at risk of, or being exploited by local organised crime groups.

Police visited four of the young people believed to be at risk, and served two section two notices as part of the Child Abduction Act 1984 to an 18-year-old man in relation to potential criminal exploitation.

Detective Sergeant Sherlyn Melton said: “What started as reports of anti-social behaviour in and around Hyndburn quickly became a much darker picture, with children potentially being groomed with the promise of cash and clothes.

“Some were asked to sell drugs, and this accounted for some of the anti-social behaviour that residents reported into us.

“We actively encourage parents, carers, teachers and the wider community to please take note of our young people, so we can all work together to keep them safe.”

Parents are being asked to watch for their children spending time with older friends, using a new phone, wearing expensive clothes and trainers, or appear withdrawn.

Partners from children’s social care who sit within a specialist exploitation team, accompanied by NHS health services, were there to offer help and signpost and secure services for young people to support them with their physical and mental health, in order to help them get healthy and make better choices for their future.